MAY 2017
Ashley
Davis-Nelson
Next Meeting
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Toni
Macfarlan
How CPS Led Me to Conservative
Activism
Lakeside Country Club, 100 Wilcrest Drive 77042
11:00 AM Registration
11:30 AM Program and Lunch
RSVP on the website or
mailto:[email protected]
Ashley was in and out of foster care until
she was 12 years-old. As she grew older, she
decided to pay it forward and help vulnerable
children in CPS. She served as University of
Houston's College Republican President and
as a Senator in Student Government
Association. After graduation, she worked
with Blakemore and Associates, Ted Cruz’s
Presidential Campaign and now Empower
Texans. She has been involved with CPS
bills for the 85th Texas Legislative Session.
Or 713-963-9805
Lunch $25.00
No lunch $3.00
(Pay on line or cash only at the meeting)
All Attendees must RSVP by Friday, May 19st at 12:00 NOON
Please notify us of dietary restrictions when RSVP
*No-Shows will be billed*
Complimentary Valet Parking
2017 DATES TO REMEMBER
America's Hidden Epidemic
MAY 11…………..VRW Voter Registrar Training
Toni has been volunteering with
MAY 24…………..VRW General Meeting
JULY TBD ……...Villages 4th of July Celebration
AUGUST TBD…..VRW Event
SEPT 14-17……..NFRW Convention, Philadelphia
SEPT 27…………VRW GENERAL MEETING
OCT 19-21………TFRW Convention, Dallas
.
Traffick911 to free youth from sex
trafficking since college. Traffick911
combats domestic minor sex-trafficking with
prevention, identification and empowerment
of survivors. She's currently the Fort Bend
County Juvenile Detention Coordinator with
Traffick911, a Field Representative for
Congressman Pete Olson and a mom.
I can’t believe it is May already! One more meeting, then we break for the summer. I am thrilled with the
President’s first 100 days! On April 26, President Trump rolled out the first details of his tax plan, which
will reform the complicated tax code, slash rates, and empower companies and workers to create jobs and
keep more of their money in their own pockets.
Personal Tax Reform
•
Provide Tax Relief for Middle Income Families
•
Simplify the Tax Code by Moving from 7 to 3 Brackets: 0, 10, 25, 35
•
Modernize Tax Code to Help Families Struggling with Child & Dependent Care Costs
•
Repeal 3.8% Obamacare Tax on Investment Income
•
End Alternative Minimum Tax
•
Eliminate Itemized Deductions Except Mortgage Interest & Charitable Contributions
•
End the Death Tax
Business Tax Reform
•
15% Corporate Rate
•
Small Business Owner/Operators Eligible for Business Rate
•
Territorial Tax System to End Penalty on Companies Headquartered in the U.S.
•
Onetime Tax for Repatriation to Bring Back Trillions of Dollars from Overseas
•
Eliminate Tax Breaks for Special Interest
The Texas Legislators will be burning the midnight oil and they should be, they have accomplished very
little at getting conservative bills passed by both houses. At the time I wrote this, only 3 bills out of 4,000
submitted have passed. I would like to give you an update on the Houston pensions issue, but it changes from
minute to minute…stay tuned!
HB 2815 by Tom Oliverson is referred to as the “nursing home voting bill.” It could help prevent the single
source of voting fraud that is the topic of the highest number of complaints received by the Secretary of
State after every election.
HB 2139 by Mike Schofield brings organized election fraud under the state’s racketeering laws and makes it
a felony to engage in organized election fraud activity like ballot harvesting.
HB 3643 by Valoree Swanson increases penalties for illegally assisting voters and particularly for voter
ambush. That’s were organized groups wait in the parking lots of polling places, lock arms with
unsuspecting voters and proceed into the polling place to act as the “assistants” for voters with whom they
have no prior relationship.
HB 3435 by Valoree Swanson gives the Signature Verification Committee of the election Ballot Board more
flexibility in disallowing mail ballots for which the signatures displayed are clearly not the signatures of the
voter.
Call or email your representative today to let them know this is important to you. On the last page of this
newsletter you can click on to find your representative.
What to say:
Tell your representative there are 4 election bills that we need to improve election integrity in Harris
County. Ask them to please do whatever they can to pull these 4 bills to votes by the House and Senate.
Your voices can make a real difference.
We have some exciting events and speakers planned for you next fall. Have a happy, healthy fun summer
and we will see you in August!
Buffie
85th Session of the Texas Legislature:
The Final Countdown
“Sign or die” is May 29, 2017. There is a LOT to get done and several deadlines to
meet in the process. As of the last day of April, a combined total of 6,618 House and
Senate bills have been introduced, yet only a jaw-dropping 3 have passed. Yes, you
read that right. Click here to check the most up-to-date statistics:
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Reports/Report.aspx?ID=legislativestatistics.
Do you know where your favorite bill is in the process? Look it up here:
http://www.legis.texas.gov. You can also access contact information for members, as well
as committee rosters at the same website. Make your opinion known. Time is
running out.
Friday, May 12, 2017 (123rd day)
Last day for House to consider consent HBs on 2nd & 3rd reading and ALL 3rd reading HBs and
HJRs on Supplemental Calendar
Friday, May 19, 2017 (130th day)
Last day for the House to consider local HBs on 2nd and 3rd reading. First day the Senate can
consider bills and resolutions the first day they are posted on the Senate Intent Calendar
Wednesday, May 24, 2017 (135th day)
Last day for the House to consider local and consent SBs on 2nd and 3rd reading and all 3rd reading
SBs and SJRs on the Supplemental Calendar. Last day for Senate to consider all bills and joint
resolutions on 2nd or 3rd reading
Sunday, May 28, 2017 (139th day)
Last day for the House to adopt conference committee reports or discharge House conferees and
concur in Senate amendments. Last day for the Senate to concur in House amendments or adopt
conference committee reports
Monday, May 29, 2017 (140th day)
Last day of 85th Regular Session (sine die); only corrections may be considered in the House and
Senate. Regular Session Ends
Sunday, June 18, 2017 (20th day following final adjournment of 85th Regular Session)
Last day the governor can sign or veto bills passed during the regular session
**This list is condensed from:
http://www.lrl.texas.gov/scanned/calendars/Dates%20Of%20Interest%2085.pdf and
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/DeadlineActionCalendar.pdf. Please go to these websites for
more information concerning legislative deadlines.
Laura Borda
Carolyn Hinch
Gillian Keener
Kathie Marshall
Martha Mathis
Peggy Moseley
Victoria Olson
Joanie Lucci Bain is an accomplished trial and appellate attorney with
over thirty years of experience. She has practiced in both state and
federal courts including the United States Supreme Court and
Texas Supreme Court, with an emphasis in complex litigation and
appeals. She is also an arbitrator, a mediator and has served
as special commissioner on numerous occasions. Joanie is most proud,
however, of being the mother of four wonderful boys, Bruce II, Nicolas,
Michael and Cameron. Married for 36 years this coming June, Joanie
and her husband, Bruce are lifelong partners in many ways.
Joanie attended University of Texas at Austin, where she graduated with honors. Bruce and Joanie met at
UT in 1978, and married one week after graduation. A native Houstonian, Joanie returned to Houston
where she attended University of Houston School of Law.
Bruce and Joanie started their own Boutique law firm, Bain & Bain PLLC in 1995. Since that time Bruce
and Joanie have practiced together, raised a family together, and campaigned together.
Joanie has also been active in community service throughout her career. She has served at various times in
numerous volunteer capacities for boy scouts and at schools, including chairing the Memorial High School
Booster Club Auction. She also served as president of the Memorial High School Boys Lacrosse Club, and is
currently serving as president of her neighborhood homeowner’s association. She taught Sunday School for
elementary age students at her church, St. Cecilia’s, for several years and has volunteered in several
capacities at numerous church activities.
Our committee continues to donate new and gently used children's books to schools and food pantries in
the community. Donations are always welcome. We have also given copies of the Constitution to schools
in SBISD. Please let Lucretia Shaver if there is any volunteer opportunity that would interest you.
Cinco de Mayo is probably the holiday most often celebrated that no one understands. What’s it all about? How is it
celebrated? What does it mean to Mexicans? Here are the answers in a handy guide.
What is Cinco de Mayo?
Literally "the Fifth of May," Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican Holiday celebrating the Battle of Puebla, which took
place on May 5, 1862. In 1861, France sent a massive army to invade Mexico, as they wanted to collect on some
war debts.
The French army was much larger, better trained and equipped than the Mexicans struggling to defend the road to
Mexico City. It rolled through Mexico until it reached Puebla, where the Mexicans made a valiant stand, and,
against all logic, won a huge victory. It was short-lived, as the French army regrouped and continued, eventually
taking Mexico City. But the euphoria of an unlikely victory against overwhelming odds is remembered every May
fifth.
Isn’t it Mexico’s Independence Day?
That's a common misconception. Mexico celebrates its independence on September 16, because it was on that day in
1810 that Father Miguel Hidalgo took to his pulpit in the village church of the town of Dolores and invited his flock
to take up arms and join him in overthrowing Spanish tyranny. Independence Day is a very important holiday in
Mexico and not to be confused with Cinco de Mayo.
How Big of a Deal Is Cinco de Mayo?
Cinco de Mayo is a big deal in Puebla, where the famous battle took place but it really isn't as important as most
people think.
September 16, Independence Day, is a much more important holiday in Mexico. For some reason, Cinco de Mayo is
celebrated more in the United States of America, by Mexicans and Americans alike, than it is in Mexico. One theory
for why it is more popular in the USA is that at one time, it was celebrated in all of Mexico and by Mexicans living
in former Mexican territories such as Texas and California.
It was ignored in Mexico after a while but still celebrated north of the border, which never got out of the habit of
remembering the famous battle.
Come volunteer and celebrate with us at the Village Independence Festival on July 4 in front
of Memorial Dr. Baptist Church from 10-1 p.m.
We will have a booth to distribute pocket constitutions and goodies for kids. Help us recruit
new members as well.
Contact Mary Grace Landrum, Americanism Committee to volunteer, 713-722-8307 or
[email protected].
The meeting was called to order by President Ingersoll at 11:35 A.M.
Ms. Cheryl Dalton (Chaplain) read the invocation and spoke about the National Day of Prayer which is the first Thursday
in May of each year. This year, it is on May 4, 2017. Ms. Julie Jaehne led the members in the Pledges. President Ingersoll
introduced new members and special guests.
Minutes of the March General Meeting were approved as stated with no corrections and the Treasurer’s Report will be
filed for audit as stated.
Programs: Ms. Kathaleen Wall spoke about the movie “Run” which will be shown in Richmond, Texas on Friday night,
April 28. This movie describes the human trafficking situation and there will be information distributed during the event
to inform the public about this problem. May’s General Meeting will focus on Child Protective Services and Ms. Wall is
working on upcoming speakers. Members were urged to read the handout on Texas legislative bills that are of interest to
Republicans and to support the bills through contacting state legislators. Ms. Wall also reminded members to submit their
campaign hours. She also asked members to vote in the May 6 local elections.
Mr. John Lumon, former candidate for H.I.S.D. School Board, spoke about the upcoming May 6 th H.I.S.D. vote on
Proposition 1. He explained that since last year’s vote, the Texas Education Agency has re-calculated H.I.S.D.’s bill for
“Robin Hood” from approximately 162 million dollars to 75 million dollars. He asked attendees to vote Yes on
Proposition 1 so no property will be removed from H.I.S.D. for taxing since the property would never be returned to the
H.I.S.D. rolls. A No vote will raise taxes on properties left behind after the property such as the Galleria goes on the
taxing rolls of another school district.
Membership: Ms. Eleanor White reported that as of April 25th, VRW had 156 members and 30 associate members and
there were new members who joined at this meeting. She also described the new member drive.
President Ingersoll reported on a recent meeting with State Senator Paul Bettencourt about upcoming legislation. She also
thanked Ms. Beverly Roberts for the new directory. President Ingersoll explained that the New Member Orientation Event
will be postponed until September.
Grass Roots: Ms. Nolia Rohde spoke about the RPT Grass Roots Club and is soliciting new members. She explained that
by Joining RPT Grass Roots Club members will not receive phone calls or fundraising letters from Texas Republicans.
These donations mean that the Republican Party in Texas will be less dependent on major donors. The goal is that 10% of
VRW members join for the John Tower Award. Members can join this month or next month and that includes Associate
Members.
President Ingersoll announced that the by-law changes have been rescheduled for September and all proposed changes
will be sent out 30 days ahead of the vote for member approval. She reminded everyone of the on-line lunch reservations
and the $3 cost for attendees who do not eat lunch since they are provided coffee, tea and water along with seating.
Meeting adjourned at 12:05 P.M.
Ms. Kathaleen Wall introduced Texas State Comptroller Glenn Hegar who gave an update on Texas’ finances and its
influence on upcoming legislation.
After Mr. Hegar spoke, announcements were made and lunch concluded at 12:50 P.M.
Please click on the link below for membership application
http://villagerepublicanwomen.org/membership-application/
Click
to
see
Village Republican Women
P. O. Box 79924
Houston, TX 77279
WHO REPRESENTS ME